Argus - 1982 No 1

Magazine Overview

This issue of ARGUS, published by UFO Gävleborg, is the first issue of volume 6 from 1982. The cover prominently features the headline "Gösta Linderholm är säker 'VI FILMADE ETT FLYGANDE TEFAT!'" (Gösta Linderholm is sure 'WE FILMED A FLYING SAUCER!'), accompanied by a blurry image of a supposed UFO and a portrait of the witness. The magazine covers a range of topics related to UFOs, astronomy, and scientific skepticism.

Cover Story: Filming a Flying Saucer

The main story on the cover details Gösta Linderholm's claim of filming a flying saucer. The accompanying text states that several UFO experts who have seen the film are convinced that it is indeed an "Unidentified Flying Object." A photograph from the film shows a blurry object flying from left to right.

UFO Phenomenon in Petrozavodsk

An article describes a strange luminous phenomenon observed in Petrozavodsk, Karelia, Soviet Union, on September 20, 1977. An ambulance driver, Viktor Beljajev, reported seeing a star-like object that emitted pulsing light beams and a strange oval shape in the sky. Ambulance doctor Vera Menkova described the event as "astonishing, fairy-tale-like and fantastic." The phenomenon was also observed at the Pulkovo Observatory. Several hypotheses were proposed by researchers, including a bolide (a large meteor), an aurora borealis, or chemical effects in the atmosphere. However, no definitive explanation had been presented at the time of writing. The article highlights the difficulty in obtaining reliable, objective information about such phenomena, noting that the Soviet Academy of Sciences receives hundreds of letters annually, but few contain concrete, analyzable data.

Scientific Skepticism and Debunking

Several articles address skeptical viewpoints and debunking of UFO claims. One piece discusses the magazine 'The Skeptical Inquirer,' which examines dubious theories. It recounts how a 'witch's ring' found in Delphos, Kansas, USA, in 1971, initially presented as UFO evidence, was later identified as a fungal growth (Nocardia). The article also touches upon Betty Hill, a UFO witness who claimed to have been abducted, and mentions that a Boston psychiatrist, Dr. Simon, found her account to be fantasy, although another source suggests the psychiatrist believed the Hills had experienced something genuinely strange. The article also critiques Charles Berlitz's claims about a submerged pyramid in the Bermuda Triangle, noting that 'The Skeptical Inquirer' offered a reward for proof of its existence, which was not provided.

Another section features a debate between Christer Nordin, chairman of UFO-Sverige, and Bengt Sjögren, an author critical of UFOlogy. Nordin argues that UFO organizations like UFO-Sverige do not promote 'ideas' but rather inform the public and provide material to scientists when research begins. He criticizes Sjögren for relying on a single publication ('The Skeptical Inquirer') and for making sweeping accusations of 'humbug' without thorough study. Nordin defends the efforts of UFO researchers and mentions that the UFO issue has been discussed at the UN General Assembly. He also touches upon the discovery of a pyramid-like structure at the bottom of the ocean, attributed to oceanographer Don Henry and analyzed by anthropologist J. Manson Valentine.

Astronomy and Space Exploration

The issue includes articles on astronomical topics. One discusses the height of mountains on neutron stars, with astronomer Peter Scheuer calculating that the highest mountain on a neutron star would be about half a centimeter high due to extreme gravity. Another article details the new Space Telescope, highlighting its 2.4-meter primary mirror, which has been polished to an incredible degree of flatness. This telescope is expected to allow astronomers to observe galaxies up to 14 billion light-years away and study objects 50 times fainter than currently possible, potentially shedding light on the origin of life and the universe.

Other Reports

There are also brief reports on other topics: a suggestion by Lieutenant Brij Bhusan Vij of India to change the length of a year, day, and minute; a mention of buying a crater on Mercury from The Astronomical Society for the Pacific; a report of a bright, ascending light observed in Luleå, Sweden, possibly a rocket launch from northern Russia; and a description of a highly sensitive measuring apparatus developed by a professor at Chalmers University in Gothenburg.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine presents a mixed perspective on UFO phenomena. While it reports on alleged sightings and expert opinions supporting the reality of UFOs, it also features articles that critically examine UFO claims and present skeptical viewpoints. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting both sides of the debate and encouraging scientific investigation. The publication also serves as a member's magazine for UFO Gävleborg, providing information about the organization and its activities.

This issue of "Vår Fantastiska Värld" (Our Fantastic World) from November 17, 1981, delves into space exploration and UFO phenomena. The cover prominently features the title and an illustration of Saturn, with a smaller inset image of troubadour Gösta Linderholm. The main headline announces that a space probe is revealing secrets about Saturn.

Space Exploration: Voyager 1 and Saturn

The lead article details NASA's Voyager 1 space probe, which has been traveling for over three years and is approaching Saturn, the solar system's second-largest planet, located over 1000 million kilometers from Earth. The probe, nicknamed 'Vandraren' (The Wanderer) or 'Resenären' (The Traveler) in Swedish, is set for a rendezvous with the ringed planet. Historically, in the 1700s, Saturn's rings were thought to be a halo. Modern understanding, aided by probes like Voyager, reveals that Saturn has multiple rings, and that Jupiter and Uranus also possess rings. There's even a claim that Earth had a ring 34 million years ago.

Saturn was once considered the outermost known planet, leading to speculation about its inhabitants. Philosopher Immanuel Kant theorized that Saturn's inhabitants were the most spiritually advanced due to their planet having a 'halo.' Today, the belief in inhabitants is dismissed. Saturn is described as a gray-brown ball, compressed at the poles. The visible surface is its upper atmosphere, composed of swirling gas masses with wind speeds reaching 400 m/sec, far exceeding Earth's hurricanes. The interior of Saturn is unknown, but it radiates more heat than it receives from the sun, suggesting a solid, warm core possibly Earth-sized.

Saturn has ten moons, with Titan being of particular interest to space researchers. Titan is the largest moon in the solar system, larger than Earth's moon and even Mercury. Uniquely, Titan has an atmosphere, raising the possibility of primitive life.

Voyager 1 is scheduled to pass Saturn at a distance of 184,000 kilometers on November 12 (presumably referring to the date of the article's writing or a planned event), about one-third the distance to Earth's moon. The probe travels at over 20 km/sec, capable of covering the distance between Stockholm and Gothenburg in just over 20 seconds. Despite the vast distances, scientists can maintain contact and receive data and photographs.

The article mentions that researchers are flocking to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, preparing for the crucial flyby. Besides Saturn and Titan, Voyager will study and photograph six other moons. Voyager 2, launched on August 20, 1977, is following Voyager 1 and will reach Saturn on August 25, 1981. Its journey continues to Uranus (January 24, 1986) and Neptune (August 24, 1989), making its total mission duration nearly 12 years. The speed of Voyager highlights the immense scale of the solar system.

UFO Reports and Investigations

The magazine includes several reports on UFO sightings and related investigations.

Soviet UFO Activity

While Russians have been quiet about UFOs, they reportedly acknowledged intercepting space radio signals, possibly from an advanced civilization, which occur multiple times daily. A report from Moscow suggests these signals could originate from an advanced civilization. TASS news agency stated that Russian receivers had never previously detected these signals, ruling out domestic radio interference. Professor Samuel Kaplan of Gorki University suggested the signals might not be from the outer universe but from a technologically advanced civilization. He confirmed the signals were not from an Earth-sent satellite.

Many UFO cases in the Soviet Union are comparable to American ones. Dr. Felix Y Zigel, a prominent Soviet UFO researcher, stated that flying saucers do occur and have reportedly frightened, disturbed, and even killed astronauts in space. This is possibly referring to the three Soviet cosmonauts (Dobrovolski, Patsayev, and Volkov) who died during the Soyuz 11 mission, officially attributed to a capsule malfunction but hinted at being related to a mysterious magnetic field.

Space Debris Problem

Space debris is presented as a significant issue, with rocket and anti-satellite weapon remnants posing a threat. American specialists at an astronautical congress in Rome have tracked over 5,000 objects in orbit, most over ten centimeters in diameter. The US delegation urged preparations for space junk control within the next decade. The area at 850 km from Earth is the most cluttered, with debris increasing by about ten percent annually over the past decade.

UFOs in Sweden

Satra Sighting: Two residents of Gävle reported seeing three unidentified objects (UFOs), described as 'buns' and at least as large as a water tower, near the water tower in Satra late on a Saturday evening. The objects disappeared after about two minutes. The Gävleborg UFO Association has been contacted.

Hallonvägen Sighting: An older woman in Hallonvägen reported two separate sightings. The first, around 22:45, involved a bright light that caused her TV to go out. She saw an object near the water tower, and the TV resumed functioning after about two minutes. The second sighting occurred over an hour after midnight, during which she felt strange and sweaty. The room was illuminated by a flash, and her radio stopped working for a few minutes. She described the phenomena as the 'creepiest' she had experienced.

Årsunda Sightings: Residents of Årsunda also reported sightings. On the evening of January 11, shortly after 8 PM, a woman saw a yellowish sphere narrowing into a cone shape with a flaming red rear passing over the treetops. Another Årsunda resident saw something resembling a rocket or fireworks. Additionally, a mother and daughter saw a streak of light arcing across the sky over Storsjön, accompanied by sparks and crackling sounds.

Gösta Linderholm's UFO Film

Troubadour Gösta Linderholm and his wife Lena have a unique film of an unidentified object seen during a car trip near Freiburg, West Germany, in late March of the same year. Lena filmed the landscape, and the strange object was only noticed when the film was developed and shown to a friend. Gösta Linderholm is convinced it is a flying saucer. He has shown the film to several UFO experts, who agree it is an 'Unidentified Flying Object.' The film is unique because Lena did not see the object while filming. Experts are investigating the film, which is currently stored in a bank vault.

Christer Nordin, chairman of UFO Sverige, has viewed the film multiple times and is convinced it is something inexplicable, a 'classic UFO.' He notes the uniqueness of Lena not seeing it during filming. Physicists suggest modern cameras can capture things invisible to the naked eye. The film will undergo further expert analysis.

International UFO Organizations

The magazine provides an extensive list of international UFO organizations from various countries, including Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Dominican Republic, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the USA. This list serves as a directory for researchers and enthusiasts.

Gävleborgs UFO-Förening Program

The Gävleborg UFO Association has published its program for winter and spring meetings, held on Thursdays at their club room, 'Gröna Rummet' (The Green Room), in Andersberg. The meetings are scheduled for March 4, March 18, April 1, April 15, April 29, May 13, May 27, and June 10.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue strongly emphasizes the intersection of space exploration and the phenomenon of unidentified flying objects. There's a clear interest in scientific endeavors like the Voyager missions, juxtaposed with anecdotal evidence and expert opinions on UFOs. The magazine appears to present UFOs as a legitimate subject of investigation, encouraging public participation and providing resources through UFO organizations. The editorial stance leans towards exploring the unknown, whether in the vastness of space or in the skies above Earth, and encourages readers to report their own sightings. The inclusion of a detailed list of international UFO organizations suggests a global perspective on the phenomenon and a desire to connect researchers worldwide.